Community Happenings

Around the Community

Chazaq and local Queens organizations distributed free masks at a communal giveaway last week in front of Holy Schnitzel on Main Street in Kew Gardens Hills

YOSS Mechina breaks into song celebrating the new zman

Around the Community

Newly appointed Trustee

Jeff Landy was recently

inducted into his new position at last week’s Village of Lawrence Board of Trustees meeting. Landy takes over the seat vacated by Daniel Goldstein, who resigned from the board after the recent elections. Trustee Landy is seen with Deputy Mayor Michael Fragin, Mayor Edelman, Trustee Paris Popack and Trustee Eli Kutner.

Chanukah Art & Writing Contest

Be a part of the JFK Airport International Synagogue and submit your artwork or writing piece.

Create an original drawing or painting related to Chanukah. The more colorful, the better. Write a 200-500 words on “My Greatest Hero/Heroine” or “Why I love Chanukah.” Attach a sheet with your name, address, parents’ phone number and email address, school name and grade. Categories are grades K-2, 3-8 and high school. Winning entries will be displayed at JFK Airport, Terminal 4 at The International Synagogue. announce the launch of The Purple Fellowship. The Purple Fellowship is a new national program for high school students, led by Shalom Task Force staff members Rocky Salomon, Hotline Service Specialist, and Jeffrey Younger, Marketing and Outreach Coordinator. Juniors and seniors were selected for the fellowship to gain important leadership skills while deepening students’ understanding of domestic abuse in the Jewish community.

“One of the major feedback requests we receive from high school students who we teach our work-

Prizes include: Three $200 awards, three $50 awards and family admission tickets to The Crayola Factory, Easton, PA.

Entries must be received before December 1, 2020. Original Art entries must be mailed to: The International Synagogue, JFK Airport, Terminal 4-room 461.037, Jamaica, N.Y. 11430. Essays can be mailed or emailed to: office@internationalsynagogue.org.

For further information: office@internationalsynagogue.org or 718656-5044. shops to each year is that they wish they had more than 90 minutes to discuss the topics of our workshops. Through this fellowship, we are giving students the opportunity to expound upon these topics and to have these important conversations with students from across the country,” said Avital Levin, Director of Education, Shalom Task Force. In addition, Shalom Task Force is partnering with Project S.A.R.A.H. to bring the Purple Fellowship to New Jersey High Schools.

For the first cohort, 26 students from 12 yeshiva high schools across six states were accepted from a high-

Central Smarts

In honor of Parshat Bereishit, the programming team at Central organized a “back to the beginning” grade vs. grade activity called “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” Representatives from each grade were invited to compete and show off their knowledge of material taught in 1st-5th grades, including English grammar, animals, and brachot! It was a really fun way to get into the spirit of the parsha and to have some good old fun. Thank you to Mrs. Rebecca Teper for planning.

As an introduction to the second perek in Sefer Shemot, sophomore students in Ms. Leah Moskovich’s ly competitive group of applicants to participate in an 8-week training taught by Shalom Task Force’s committed staff and exciting guest lecturers. Topics for the trainings include healthy relationships, red flags, supporting a friend, and barriers to coming forward. The fellowship will commence with fellows planning Go Purple Day for their schools, a day for schools to wear purple to stand up against domestic abuse and to stand up for healthy relationships, which we are holding this year in February. “The goal is for the students involved with the Fellowship to not only gain a true understanding of Shalom Chumash class were introduced to a concept taught by Dr. Yael Ziegler: identifying and understanding “typescenes” in Tanach. A type-scene is a story that repeats itself multiple times in Tanach and is meant to highlight significant details of certain characters. The significance comes from the stories and details that deviate from the biblical storyline. After identifying two type-scenes, Moshe’s “Birth-Story” and “Meeting a Spouse at a Well-Story,” the class discussed how they compare to other similar scenes in Tanach and what the typescenes teach about Moshe and his

Shalom Task Force Launches the Purple Fellowship

Shalom Task Force is excited to

mission in leadership. Task Force’s mission, but that it will also encourage students to continue to take on leadership roles in Jewish communal work,” said Dr. Shoshannah Frydman, Executive Director of Shalom Task Force.

If you or your loved one has questions or concerns about relationships, or are currently in an unhealthy or abusive relationship – we are here for you. Please call, text, or WhatsApp the confidential Shalom Task Force Hotline at 888-883-2323 or chat with a live advocate at shalomtaskforce.org.

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The Many Roles of Pharmacists

October is American Pharmacists Month, a celebration in support of pharmacists around the country. In honor of this health observance, Touro College of Pharmacy alum Penina Segal shares information on the career options available in this exciting field, necessary skills and interests, work/life balance and salary range. Segal is currently Director of Pharmacy Management at Centers Plan for Healthy Living.

Do most pharmacists work behind the counter in a retail pharmacy? Are there other settings where pharmacists work and can you describe?

The classic idea most people have when they think of pharmacists is those that work in retail pharmacies, but there are actually so many other options for pharmacists. For example, I currently work for a health insurance company in an office environment where I review pharmacy

claims and resolve any issues for our members. Compounding pharmacists work in a specialized pharmacy mixing medications that are not available in specific concentrations, for topical medications, medications for pediatric patients and other specialized conditions. Drug rep pharmacists work for drug companies where they educate doctors and pharmacists about medications the company is manufacturing. Hospital pharmacists work in a hospital and they review and prepare all pharmacy orders for patients of the hospital. Those are just a few of the career options for pharmacists.

You graduated pharmacy school six years ago. Can you share the roles you’ve had since and what you did at each?

In my last year of pharmacy school, I started working at Rite Aid as an intern. After I graduated, I continued working in Rite Aid as a pharmacist, then a pharmacy manager. Most people think a pharmacist who works in a pharmacy just counts pills, but there is a lot more to the job than that. Pharmacists check each prescription, making sure the dosage is correct and that it doesn’t interfere with any other medications or conditions the patient has, among other things. Pharmacists also counsel patients on their medications, give vaccinations, and speak with doctors and health insurance companies to make sure the patient gets the medication they need.

When I was ready for a change, I got a job as a pharmacist for a health insurance plan. A pharmacist in a plan reviews claims daily to ensure members are getting the medications they need, that there are no drug interactions, and that members are adhering to their medications. The Pharmacy Department of the plan works to make sure our members get quality care, speaking to doctors to facilitate appointments and refills and speaking with members to review the medications they are taking.

In my current role as director of the Pharmacy Department, I work with our pharmacy benefit manager to oversee their management of the plan’s formulary and claims and to resolve any issues we find in our daily reviews.

What type of skill set and interests are needed to succeed as a pharmacist?

I think one of the most important skills a pharmacist needs, no matter what setting, is the ability to multitask. Especially when working as a retail pharmacist, there are multiple patients and prescriptions that need to be reviewed and dealt with at the same time.

While it is very important to remember medications and interactions, I think the ability to communicate effectively and empathize with patients is most important. This will enable the pharmacist to serve the patients’ needs while fostering positive relationships with patients, doctors and coworkers. Caring about the patients and being committed to ensuring they get the best care will lead the pharmacist to do all he or she can so the patients receive the medication they need, no matter how many times they need to get on the phone or try different means.

When did you know you wanted to pursue this career path and why?

I always knew that I wanted to pursue a career in healthcare because I loved science and medicine and wanted to have patient interaction. While I thought about medicine and dentistry, what led me to pharmacy was the fact that, as a Jewish mother, I wanted to be available for my family as much as possible. As a pharmacist, I am completely involved in my job when I am working, but when I get home (at a decent hour), I am able to be there fully for my children.

Can you provide a salary range for pharmacists?

It depends what setting and location you work in, but in New York I would say the range is $125K-$200K.

What is the work/life balance a pharmacist can expect to achieve?

In retail pharmacy, most pharmacists work during store hours, which can be long. I worked Sunday 10-5, and Monday through Wednesday 9-8. While some people like shift work, it was extremely hard for me not to see my family for so many hours. I switched settings to work for a health insurance company, working 9-5, and I love it. While there are times I need to answer emails after work hours, for the most part, when I am home I am able to separate from work and spend time focusing on my family. There are so many different settings where a pharmacist can work with a variety of hours and job pressures. I can confidently say that this career offers a range of options that can fit with multiple needs for work/life balance.

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Gesher celebrated Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan with a spectacular animal show. The children enjoyed seeing and learning about the animals’ habitats and features

Bright colors for Parshas Noach at HANC ECC West Hempstead

Something for Everyone at Rambam

The first days back from the post-Sukkos break saw another action-packed week of learning and fun at Rambam Mesivta. Early Morning Learning resumed with Rabbi Friedman, Rabbi Ziskind, Rabbi Rosensweig and Rabbi Haar learning with the talmidim before shiur. The new Lego Builders Club, under the leadership of Yosef Smith, Ariel Fried, and Siggy Orenbuch, shared some of their builds and are sponsoring an October Contest of the Month: “Futuristic Vehicle Build.”

Mr. Goldman met with the Classic Film Club on the topic of “Sound and Cinema” with a behind-thescenes look at the role sound plays in creating emotions and dramatic tension. Rambam Sports Talk Live also convened this week to talk the NBA

Did you know?

Election Day is on Tuesday because, back in the 1800s, Congress wanted to give farmers time to get back home in time for market, which started on Wednesday

Finals and NHL free agency. Reuban Azose, Sam Korman, Charlie Mann, and Judah Orlanski, the co-captains of the chat, are working on getting guests like last year’s powerhouse line-up of Tim Hardaway, Sr., Mike Lupica, Mike Eruzione and more. Shlomo Braverman and Menachem Weiss led the charge with Videogame Chat talking the latest in Minecraft and Smash Bros.

The new Create Your Own Comic Book Club, started by freshman David Miller, is well on its way to writing, illustrating, and producing their own comic. Masmidim Night and Lunch Learning all continued this week, thanks to the plug from Yoni Bench and the Mesivta News Network. Yechiel Amar, resident Rambam weatherman on the Mesivta News Network, used his screen-time to promote the 501 Book Challenge Chesed Initiative which launched this week. The Mesivta News Network also introduced a new feature with a debate between presidential surrogates Donny Guttman and Dani Jakubowitz. Ariel Schanke moderated the “civil” and lively debate.

The Contest of the Month Winner for the “Boardgame Recall” Challenge was declared: sophomore Yosef Shedlo took home the plaque and glory, with Ariel Schanke winning the runner up slot. This month’s Contest of the Month: “Eitan Markovitz Kahoot” run by Eitan Markovitz, which saw a come-frombehind victory by junior Ilan Kinsberg, just edging out seniors Moshe Chernigoff (2nd place) and Ezra Klein

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Greater By Grade Challenge

Shulamith High School is known for finding ways to keep the energy up and the environment positive even during these difficult times.

Last Thursday, grade cohorts gathered in different locations for the “Greater by Grade” event. Each grade was issued the same four challenges and divided amongst themselves to work on the competition that spoke to their passions and strengths. “Conquer the Cake” asked students to represent the quote, “No one can whistle a symphony. It takes a whole orchestra to play it” using two plain sheet cakes and dozens of edible decorating materials. From musical notes to the 11th grade cake-sheetof-music, the cakes looked right out of a TLC baking show. Others hurried to the STEM challenge, which asked students to create a 3D object that could be easily transported. The STEM creation had to represent, “Alone we can do so little, but together we can do so much.” Students were hard at work shaping tiny clay people with care and diligence. To stay on topic, art supplies were spread on a table for students to participate in “Mask Attack.” Here, students were asked to create a line of masks – masks worthy enough for students to be willing to wear on Central Ave. Sophomores thought outside the box, using neon Sharpies to color spirals and spraying with water giving it a trendy tie dye look. The masks had to convey the message, “Teamwork makes the dream work.” Finally, in the “Swag-Off” groups, students designed sweatshirts, blankets, and hair ties that represented the saying, “Individually we are one drop, together we are an ocean.” The winner of the Swag-Off will have the design featured during the next ShulaMerch sale.

With music playing and faculty encouraging students, the joy was palpable. SHS is grateful to Dean of Students Mrs. Ricky Gaerman and Director of Student Activities Ms. Esty Munk for creating this awesome brain break and to faculty for helping to facilitate and helping grade cohorts unite!

Did you know?

George Washington is the only U.S. president in history to win 100% of the Electoral College vote Reinforcing Good Middot in Our Children

As members of the Jewish community, HALB believes in instilling the importance of social responsibility and respect in their students. The HALB Lower School launched the PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Support) program with several interactive assemblies on Friday, October 16.

PBIS is a proactive approach to establishing the social culture needed for all students to achieve social, emotional, and academic success in school. After two successful years of participating in PBIS at HALB, the students were excited to begin the school-wide program, which promotes positive expectations, routines and behaviors.

The assemblies featured several short films that students created earlier in the week with Mrs. Gail Rusgo, HALB Lower School Director of General Studies. The films demonstrate positive behaviors that are encouraged and recognized at HALB, relating to safety, responsibility and Saturday, November 21 at Town Park

respect. PBIS cards were distributed to teachers and faculty to be given to students in recognition of positive behaviors, such as holding the door for someone, helping out a friend, and any other act of kindness or respect. In addition to individual rewards, whole classes are recognized for collaborative displays of responsibility and safety, such as cleaning up the yard or walking quietly and safely in the hallways. Weekly raffles and announcements of PBIS winners promote high quality behavior and school pride and support a safe and positive school climate and culture at HALB. The skills and behaviors reinforced will stay with the children and guide them through life, both inside and outside

E-Cycling Events

Town of Hempstead Supervisor Point Lookout from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Don Clavin, in partnership Items to e-cycle include televisions, with Senior Councilwom- computers, computer components, an Dorothy Goosby, Councilman monitors, tablets, e-readers, electronBruce Blakeman, Councilman An- ic keyboards, fax machines, scanners, thony D’Esposito, Councilman Den- printers, VCRs, DVRs, DVD players, nis Dunne, Sr., Councilman Thomas digital converter boxes, cable or satMuscarella and Councilman Chris ellite receivers, electronic and video Carini, is calling on residents to help game consoles and portable digital protect the environment from toxic music players. Cell phones are NOT materials by recycling their electronic accepted. waste at Hempstead Town’s E-Cycling At both e-cycle programs, resiPrograms being held October 25 and dents may bring their personal papers November 21. and confidential documents to be

“We frequently upgrade our elec- shredded. Shredding services are free tronic devices to take advantage of and open to Town residents only; no new technology,” said Supervisor shredding from commercial or home Clavin. “As a result, people are always businesses will be accepted. Materials looking to get rid of their old products, to be shredded should be brought in and Hempstead Town’s E-Cycle event paper bags or cardboard boxes. is the solution to dispose of those Residents should place electronproducts in a responsible, eco-friend- ic waste and/or documents in their ly way.” trunks and remain in their vehicles. A

Hempstead Town’s E-Cycle Pro- crew member will remove the items to gram is being held on Sunday, Oc- ensure a safe, contactless process. tober 25 at Town Park at Malibu in For questions about e-cycling, Lido Beach from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and please call (516) 378-4210. the classroom.

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Tracking Hate Magic and Mentalists at HANC

NYPD Chief Chaplain Rabbi Dr. Alvin Kass with Eastern Director of the Simon Wiesenthal Center Michael Cohen

Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Eastern Director Michael Cohen met this week with NYPD Chief Chaplain Rabbi Dr. Alvin Kass to demonstrate support, solidarity, and appreciation for his continued leadership after Rabbi Dr. Kass was assaulted during an attempted mugging on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. The meeting was held at Rabbi Kass’ offices at the NYPD PSA #4 building in lower Manhattan and was arranged by NYPD Chaplain and recent SWC Hero for Tolerance Honoree David Heskiel.

During the meeting, Mr. Cohen and Rabbi Kass discussed the concerning rise of anti-Semitic attacks and hate crimes over the past two years in New York City and the need for NYPD and SWC to continue to coordinate in helping combat such activities. Mr. Cohen detailed to Rabbi Kass the efforts of SWC’s Digital Hate/ Digital Terror program and how the institution continues to make every effort to track online hate and report it to appropriate authorities those posts, groups or individuals who potentially pose a threat to our community’s safety.

SWC thanks Rabbi Kass for meeting with SWC and for all of his efforts to ensure hate crimes in New York City are taken seriously. SWC also thanks David Heskiel for his efforts in organizing this important meeting and providing SWC the opportunity to both check in on Rabbi Kasss welfare after the attack and to promote the relationships necessary to push back against hate in our region.

Did you know?

We hold elections in November because by that time farmers would be finished with tending to their crops

The new month of Cheshvan was ushered in with laughter and amazement in HANC’s Samuel and Elizabeth Bass Golding Elementary School in West Hempstead. Thanks to the magnificent October weather, the kindergarten through second grade students enjoyed watching an outdoor magic show performed by David Funn. Despite the fact that the children could not physically participate in the magic tricks, Mr. Funn was an engaging entertainer and had the children actively involved even though they had to remain in their seats. Throughout the course of his magic show, the children helped him find disappearing boxes, a pizza that kept hiding in a box with hidden compartments, a rubber chicken that kept showing up in all sorts of unexpected places, and even made a live rabbit appear in a box where a picture of a rabbit had been displayed just a few minutes beforehand. It was a delightful program and added a lot of happiness to the children’s day.

Later in the day, the third through sixth grade students were mesmerized as they watched the performance of the mentalist named Alan Hudson. Performing live on Zoom, the children watched from their classrooms and were completely enthralled by his incredible talents. After performing several card tricks, he chose a student to watch him make different colored thimbles appear on and disappear from various fingertips. In the end, he was able to identify the color that the student was thinking about at the end of the trick. The stunt that left everyone speechless was when he asked a student to choose an article from thousands of entries on Wikipedia. The student chose a word from a random entry, and just by giving the first and last letter of the word, Mr. Hudson was able to identify the exact word that the student chose. It was truly remarkable.

The children truly enjoyed both programs, and it was a fun beginning for the month of Cheshvan. HANC wishes to thank the PTA for sponsoring these programs.